Speaking in advance of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform public meeting in Dublin held April 14, the Minister said the additional money will bring the total Government funding of ILIR to $133,000 since its establishment in December 2005. Since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have insisted that finding a resolution to the situation facing the undocumented be a key priority for my Department. I have repeatedly stressed the urgency of this issue in all my contacts with members of Congress and with the US Administration. During our visit to Washington last month, the Taoiseach and I placed the plight of the undocumented at the very top of our agenda in our meetings with President Bush and the key leaders in Congress. We also stressed the hardship experienced by so many families in Ireland when their relatives are unable to return home for important family events. The Taoiseach and I were greatly encouraged by the response in Washington and we believe that the prospects for the passage of a bill that would assist the undocumented are better now than at any stage in over fifteen years.